U.S. says Libyan opposition deserves support

Thursday, April 28, 2011 - 01:33

Apr 27 - The State Department said it believes the Libyan opposition Transitional National Council deserves U.S. support but has not decided whether to formally recognize it as Libya's legitimate government. Jon Decker reports.

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Libyan rebels vowed on Wednesday to take the key oil town of Brega amid a stalemate on the desert road that links it to Ajdabiyah, 50 miles further east.
Rebels intent on overthrowing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi reported clashes in Brega last week.
In the capital of Tripoli, a team of United Nations investigators met Libyan officials about allegations that forces loyal to Gaddafi had committed human rights violations.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the State Department said it believes the Libyan opposition TNC- the Transitional National Council -- deserves U.S. support but has not decided whether to formally recognize it as Libya's legitimate government.
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA GENE CRETZ SAYING:
"Recognition remains, you know, a legal and an international obligations issue that we're still studying and we have not made a definitive determination on that question. But that has not stopped us from doing everything that we could to support the TNC and the Libyans."
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama approved the release of up to $25 million in nonlethal U.S. aid to support groups such as the TNC.
Jon Decker, Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron heads into the summer break faced with falling popularity ratings after tough debates in parliament over labour reform and a public ethics law, a standoff with the military and cuts to housing assistance

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